Messina |
Just three miles off the coast of southern Italy's mainland is the port town of Messina on the island of Sicily. Cruise ships sailing the Mediterranean often stop over in Messina, Sicily in order for passengers to visit the Mt. Etna volcano or the charming Sicilian village of Taormina.
This bustling town of Messina, itself, has a complex history with roots in Greek mythology but, because of an earthquake in the early 1900s, it's a relatively young city architecturally. Since the majority of the city has been rebuilt or refurbished within the last 100 years, you'll find the town has an interesting blend of new architecture and old styles.
As you sail into this unusual port you will notice Madonna della Letttera towering over the bay. At the tip of the "sickle" at the port, La Madonnina (Madonna della Lettera) oversees the port standing on a sturdy column on top of the original S. Salvatore fort tower. At 6 feet tall the statue of Mary blesses all those who arrive in the city by sea and represents Messina's deep devotion to the Protector. The statue was illuminated for the first time in 1934 by Pope Pius XI, who activated it from the Vatican with a radio controlled device invented by Marconi.
GEOGRAPHY
The city of Messina is a pleasant town located, with the best harbor, on the Strait of Messina between the Tyrrhenian and Ionia Seas, in northeast Sicily. Your first impression of Messina is that of a flat city with few skyscrapers -- a curious result of the numerous earthquakes which have blighted the city. This ancient city of cobblestone streets and friendly people is the gateway to the sunny island of Sicily, a mountainous and rugged place that remains in the shadow of its still-active volcano, Mt. Etna. While transiting the Straits of Messina, look for whirlpools, and Sicilian swordfish boats with their long bow planks scouring the waters for their catch.
HISTORY
Messina's importance in ancient history is two-fold; it controlled the strait relative to marine traffic, and it controlled the passage between mainland Italy and the island of Sicily. Messina was a way station on the route to somewhere else. Messina is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, Italy and the capital of the province which bears its name. Messina has a population of 243,000.
The harbor, on an inlet off the Strait of Messina, is shaped like a sickle, hence the ancient name ‘Zancle’, or ‘sickle city’. The excellent harbor, in size and utility, was one of the most important, ranking with that of Genoa or Naples.
Messina has a dark side. It is located on an earthquake-prone belt stretching from Vesuvius, through Stromboli, then through Mount Etna. This arc of volcanoes has been continuously active from ancient times down through the present. Consequently, the pressures from below are always causing earthquakes and tremors. The city of Messina has several times been struck by major earthquakes, the ones of 1783 and 1908 being the most documented. In 1908 the city of Messina was destroyed. Not just damaged, destroyed.
THE
EARTHQUAKE
The
7.5 earthquake of December 28, 1908 began with a 35-second major shock wave,
followed by a month of after-shocks. The affected area was an arc 18 miles
long, 12 miles wide, with Messina in the center. After the major shock, the tidal wave which followed soon after
destroyed both coasts along the Strait of Messina Over 80,000 perished. and
over 90 percent of
Messina was obliterated. And not only the buildings were destroyed, but the
very streets themselves disappeared in the rubble as the mountainside
slipped down into the sea.
The major city streets went around the circumference of the amphitheater; four of them. Running straight down to the harbor dock were very steep streets which must have seen some incredible accidents. Along the four major streets were built the villas and palaces of ancient times. In their day, Messina was one of the most beautiful cities in the world as seen from ship-side.
What one sees now is the modern town of Messina, built on top of the ancient site. The only ruins which represent ancient times is the Duomo, or basilica, built in the 2nd century. Built as a pagan temple, converted to a Christian church, and restored in modern times, it still has some of the original mosaics and door moldings. Otherwise, you'll see occasional columns and statuary without attachment to a building.
Sadly, most travelers use Messina as more of a stopover point as opposed to a tourist destination. While it is the third largest city in Sicily, it has evolved into a place where people go on their way to more glamorous destinations, like nearby Taormina, or even to Sicily's capital, Palermo, which lies to the west. The popular resort town of Taormina is only 35 miles away.
However, if you are staying in Messina there are a few interesting sights that you may wish to see that are close to the ship - so a day spent in Messina needn't be lost. The main shopping area of Messina is a short distance from the pier along Via Garibaldi, Piazza Cairoli, and Viale San Martino if you have no tours or excursions planned... and would like to visit this resilient city, see city map on the next page.
The Euro (EUR) is the official
currency of Italy. However, many stores and restaurants also accept major credit
cards, which usually offer you a good exchange rate. When shopping, remember
there is a Value-Added Tax added to most purchases.
